Folding bed



Patented Oct. I8, I898.

Nu. 6l2,592.

P. H. MELLDN.

FOLDING BED.

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1898.)

(ah Model.)

mm m M wmesses m: uonms PETERS cc. PNOTD LITNO., wnsmumom usc PATENT FFICE.

PETER H. MELLON, or sr. Louis, MIssoURi.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,592, dated October 18, 1898. Application filed March 31, 1892.. Serial No. 675,879. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER II MELLON, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have inveni ed certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in folding beds; and it consists in the novel arran gement, construction, and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding bed constructed with a View to convenience in handling and shipping, its parts being easily taken apart and put together with little inconvenience.

Another object is in constructing and applying the spring fabric to counterbalance the weight of the bed and the manipulation of the front brace-legs used to prevent the pulling over of the bed-standard in opening the bed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved folding bed, showing it in the act of being opened. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the beds base with parts broken away, showing the adaptation of the front brace-leg in its operative position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the base, showing the operation of the front brace-leg and how the bed is pivoted to said base.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the complete invention,whieh consists of a base 2,composed of two rear standards or legs 3, connectedby cross-rails 4. To the standards or legs 3 are secured rails 5, which connect the rear standards or legs 3 to front legs 6, which are preferably constructed of tubing and are provided at the top with an elbow 7 and at the center with a coupling 8. To thesecouplings aresecured the cross-rails 4c and rails 5, supporting the legs, making them rigid and selfsupporting. To the elbow 7 is secured a tube 9, extending to the rear legs 3 and secured to a coupling 10, formed thereon. On the tube 9 and near its forward end are ball journalcastings 11, provided with a depression 12, in which is held and operated the pivot or pin hinge carried by the bed, which will be fully hereinafter set forth.- The tube 9 is also provided with a casting 13, located at the rear portion thereof, and is provided at its upper surface With a pin or bolt 14., preferably forming a part thereof, which is designed for the purpose to pass through and support a rail 15, to which is firmly secured the spring fabric. This rail 15 is held in position by a nut or other suitable means placed over the pin l ion top of said rail.

The front legs 6 are connected together by rails 16, supported and held in the elbows 7 and couplings 8, these rails being preferably of angle design, as shown in section in Fig. 2; but other construction of rails may be used.

The rear standards or legs 3 have an extension 17, formed as sockets above the upper coupling, which is constructed for the insertion and support of the canopy-uprights 18,

which carries the canopy 1'9, curtains 20, and

are connected by a stationary headpiece 21. This entire canopy-frame can, by the wish of the person, be separated from the base by raising said standards 18 out of the sockets of the extension 17, if so desired, which is done for convenience in moving or shipping The folding portion 22 on bed proper is composed of side rails 23, a foot-piece 24, and swinging legs 25, thesebeing of any desirable design and construction, and the said folding portion 22 on bed proper is pivotally hinged by means of pins 26, secured to the side rails 23 in any suitable manner, these pins resting and are supported in the depression 12 of the ball journalcasting 11.

In lowering the bed from its upright or folded position it is necessary to have its weight counterbalanced. This is accomplished by the spring fabric 27, its one end being firmly secured in any desirable manner to the foot-rail 28 and its other end like wise secured to the rail 15, mounted on the castings 13.

When the bed is in the tilted position, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the spring fabric 27 has a slack or downward bulge in itself at the head portion, (marked X,) this slack acting as the support for as well as. keeping the bedding in the proper po sition? which also rests against the headpiece 21, carried by the canopy -uprights 18. While pulling downward upon the bed.

proper and the more it comes into its horizontal position the tighter the spring fabric stretches, and its tension caused by this action -acts as a counterbalance for the bed proper and bedding placed therein. In connection with this construction of counterbalance is provided front brace-legs 2S, preferably two in number,and is provided with arms 29, by which said braces are pivotally mounted to the front rails 16 of the base 2. To the under surface of said braces is secured a looking and stopping hook-arm 30, preferably right angular in form and its free end formed with an upward projection 31, which is designed to come in contact with the rail 16, stopping the brace when in its outward supporting position, as is clearly and particularly shown in Fig. 2.

The brace-legs are only used in opening and while the bed proper is in its open position and is particularly designed and constructed to prevent the upright or canopy portion from tipping or falling over forwardly upon the person while in the act of opening the bed.

WVhen the bed is closed, the brace-legs 28 are pushed inwardly, and by means of its pivoted or hinged arms 29 the brace is allowed to be folded against the front of the base, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and by solid lines in Fig. 3, which are then out of the way and causing no obstruction in the room, and at the same time while the braces are folded the hook-arm 30, carried by the brace, passes around and comes in communication with the rear surface of the side rails 23 of the bed proper, holding and also looking the same in its upright folded position. By referring to Fig. 3 the operation of the hook-arm can be clearly observed. The solid lines show the brace-leg folded and the hookarm locking the rail 23, and in dotted lines the brace is shown in its bracing position and the end of the hook-arm in communication with the rail 16.

By this construction of bed a large amount of weight is dispensed with, which is an important item in the shipping and moving feature, and this is gained by entirely dispensing with the balance-weights heretofore used, which are of cast-iron and many in number; yet as the weights are all removed the counterbalaneing functions are still retained.-

It is not desired that this invention be limited to its precise construction, as there are other ways in which the brace-leg may be hinged and the base be connected but it is preferably constructed as shown and described.

Having fully described this invention,what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved upright folding bed composed of a bed-frame, a base or standard on together;

which said bed-frame pivots and is supported, a continuous spring fabric connected at its extremities to the bed-frame and to the base, and movable brace-legs hinged securely to the base and provided with a hook-arm by which to stop said brace-leg for the purpose of preventing said base from tilting forward while the bed-frame is being drawn down from its upright folded position, substantially as set forth.

2. In an improved upright folding bed, a base composed of front and rear legs or standards and rods or rails, a canopy-frame moun ted upon said base, the folding member of said bed pivotally hinged to said base a journalbearing formed on said base and which carries the folding member of said bed, bracelegs hingedly secured to said base and constructed to fold against the front surface thereof and provided with hook-arms by which to stop said brace-legs when in a braced position, also to lock and support the folding member of said bed when folded a spring fabric secured to the bed and to a rail supported on the base by which to hold said fabric secure so as to counterbalance the weight of said bed and act as the bed-spring, substantially as set forth.

3. "In a folding bed having a base composed of front and rear standards or legs connected together by rails constructed to support the folding member of the bed, a spring fabric secured to the base and to the bed to counterbalance the weight of the bed and to act as the spring, brace-arms pivotally secured to the base to support the bed while operating to prevent the falling over of the bed-standard, said brace-legs carrying hook-arms aeting as a stop for the brace-legs, also looking and supporting the bed-frame when folded, substantially as set forth.

4. In a folding bed provided with a base of front and rear standards or legs suitably c011- neeted by rods or rails, a detachable canopyframe supported by said base, the bed proper having a pin secured to each side journalbearings formed on the base for the insertion of said pins to support the'bed, a spring fabric secured to the bed and to a rail supported on the base, said spring fabric used to counterbalanee the weight of said bed proper, braces carried by the base to support the base to prevent the falling over of the bed-standard, and designed to fold against the front thereof when the bed is folded, said braces carrying arms which look the bed when the parts are in the folded position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two" witnesses.

PETER ll. MELLON,

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED A. EICKS, GEO. F. LANE. 

